The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has paid tribute to Bega brothers, Private Dudley Lucas and Private Basil Albert Lucas, at a Last Post Ceremony marking the 83rd anniversary of Dudley’s death.
Born into a family of 15 children, Dudley and Basil were two of nine Lucas brothers who served in the Second World War. Dudley, 22, was killed during an ambush on Japanese forces in Malaya in 1942, while 18-year-old Basil died of malaria in New Guinea later that year.
Eden-Monaro MP, Kristy McBain, who attended the ceremony at the War Memorial on Wednesday afternoon (January 15), highlighted the brothers’ courage and the family’s extraordinary contribution to the war effort.
“Nine brothers enlisting in one conflict is surely a record,” Minister McBain said.
“Probably the largest number of brothers or siblings to ever serve in a conflict and when that story was first told to me, (back when she was Mayor of the Bega Valley Shire) in 2016, I thought, this is something that as community we should commemorate, so working with the family we built a plaque.”
In 2017, the plaque was officially installed in front of the Bega Commemorative Civic Centre to honour the Lucas family’s sacrifice.
The Last Post Ceremony, a daily tradition at the Australian War Memorial, provides a platform to share the personal stories behind the names on the Roll of Honour, preserving their legacy for future generations.
The service was live-streamed, ensuring the memory of Dudley and Basil Lucas, and the values they stood for, reaches a wide audience.
Lest we forget.
Images: Kristy McBain
